Trial of revenge shooting suspect begins

Published: Wednesday, November 14, 2012 at 9:14 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, November 14, 2012 at 9:14 p.m.

SARASOTA - Prosecutors are accusing a man of shooting at a truck and killing a member of a rival Newtown group, part of an ongoing feud they say was responsible for the death of the man's brother.

Olajuwon Butler, 18, is charged with second-degree murder in a jury trial that started this week.

As many as 60 people on a Friday night were at “the corner,” a well-known spot in the neighborhood where locals hang around outside a church and a nightclub. On Oct. 1, 2011, about 1 a.m. Hakeem Murray, 20, was in the passenger seat of a friend's truck, driving slowly by a corner in the 1900 block of MLK way.

Bullets hit the truck as it drove, one passing through Murray's chest and lodging in the seat, according to a medical examination. Murray's friends drove to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Four women who were outside the nightclub at the corner testified that they recognized Butler, who was 17 at the time, and saw him shooting at a truck that night.

“He was looking for blood,” said Jason Chapman, an assistant state attorney, referring to Butler in his opening statements Wednesday. Chapman said Butler was “angry and wanted to feel better,” but “street justice was not done” by killing Murray, who was a member of the same gang as Marcus Moody. Moody pled no contest and was sentenced in April to 16 years in prison for the death of Butler's brother, Willie J. Hadley.

The back-and-forth retaliation that started between Newtown groups in early 2010 led to the two deaths and at least five other shootings. Another 2011 shooting in the same area drew international attention to Sarasota. Shawn Tyson, then 17, was convicted of shooting and killing two British tourists that he attempted to rob when they drunkenly stumbled into the neighborhood.

Butler's defense attorney, Daniel Hernandez, told the jury in his opening statements to consider whether witnesses were credible or might be lying, saying prosecutors' witnesses could be “friends and sympathizers” of the victim. Hernandez tried to show that witnesses had made contradictory statements and questioned whether they had been drinking when they saw the shooting.

One witness told the jury she also saw a second man shooting at the truck, but did not see who it was. A witness also testified that Butler left the scene and came back after changing his clothes.

Officers say they could not find a cooperative witness at the scene of the shooting, later tracking down witnesses at their homes. Witnesses may fear retaliation for testifying, compelled to take the stand only by subpoena. One witness told the jury she did not call police after seeing the shooting because “it's really none of my business.”

The trial is expected to conclude today with closing arguments, then it will be in the hands of the jury.

<p><em>SARASOTA</em> - Prosecutors are accusing a man of shooting at a truck and killing a member of a rival Newtown group, part of an ongoing feud they say was responsible for the death of the man's brother. </p><p>Olajuwon Butler, 18, is charged with second-degree murder in a jury trial that started this week. </p><p>As many as 60 people on a Friday night were at “the corner,” a well-known spot in the neighborhood where locals hang around outside a church and a nightclub. On Oct. 1, 2011, about 1 a.m. Hakeem Murray, 20, was in the passenger seat of a friend's truck, driving slowly by a corner in the 1900 block of MLK way.</p><p>Bullets hit the truck as it drove, one passing through Murray's chest and lodging in the seat, according to a medical examination. Murray's friends drove to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.</p><p>Four women who were outside the nightclub at the corner testified that they recognized Butler, who was 17 at the time, and saw him shooting at a truck that night.</p><p>“He was looking for blood,” said Jason Chapman, an assistant state attorney, referring to Butler in his opening statements Wednesday. Chapman said Butler was “angry and wanted to feel better,” but “street justice was not done” by killing Murray, who was a member of the same gang as Marcus Moody. Moody pled no contest and was sentenced in April to 16 years in prison for the death of Butler's brother, Willie J. Hadley.</p><p>The back-and-forth retaliation that started between Newtown groups in early 2010 led to the two deaths and at least five other shootings. Another 2011 shooting in the same area drew international attention to Sarasota. Shawn Tyson, then 17, was convicted of shooting and killing two British tourists that he attempted to rob when they drunkenly stumbled into the neighborhood.</p><p>Butler's defense attorney, Daniel Hernandez, told the jury in his opening statements to consider whether witnesses were credible or might be lying, saying prosecutors' witnesses could be “friends and sympathizers” of the victim. Hernandez tried to show that witnesses had made contradictory statements and questioned whether they had been drinking when they saw the shooting.</p><p>One witness told the jury she also saw a second man shooting at the truck, but did not see who it was. A witness also testified that Butler left the scene and came back after changing his clothes.</p><p>Officers say they could not find a cooperative witness at the scene of the shooting, later tracking down witnesses at their homes. Witnesses may fear retaliation for testifying, compelled to take the stand only by subpoena. One witness told the jury she did not call police after seeing the shooting because “it's really none of my business.”</p><p>The trial is expected to conclude today with closing arguments, then it will be in the hands of the jury.</p>